Home to the fashion hub of Chicago, Illinois has 12 fashion schools for aspiring fashion designers, merchandisers, and marketers. In fact, 11 of these schools are clustered near or in Chicago.

The average cost of tuition in Illinois is $18,062. However, tuition costs are as low as $7,635 at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. There are many different fashion scholarships at each school.

Illinois has a great variety of options for fashion school graduates. As you look for career options, you may find job openings at retail stores, design firms, and marketing firms. Some of the most prominent design employers in Illinois are Interface Inc., Dyson, Burberry, and GAP Inc. Illinois is going through a period of economic growth; while the current unemployment rate is 8.6%, it is decreasing every month (BLS, 2013).

Salaries vary widely between fashion careers. Designers, including fashion designers, earn an average salary of $49,310 per year (BLS, 2012). The average salary for merchandise displayers is $32,020 per year (BLS, 2012). Marketing specialists in Illinois earn an average salary of $63,140 per year (BLS, 2012).